“Stop The Obsession, Focus On Nation-Building” — Shettima’s Camp Tells Datti Baba-Ahmed

The office of the Vice President yesterday said a recent comment by the presidential running mate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, that Vice President Kashim Shettima ought to have been dropped, smacked of jealousy, malice and conspiratorial manipulation.

“The delusion of VP Shettima being removed by Datti and his gang of jealous, malicious and conspiratorial manipulators will not succeed,” Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), said in response in a statement.

Nkwocha said the frustration expressed by Baba-Ahmed in his television interview on the VP was just the beginning for him.

He said while no one has the power to stop Baba-Ahmed’s “obsession with a fellow politician and fellow Northerner’s charismatic persona, especially one who has attained a position he so relishes but might never attain, however, in seeking the Vice President’s fall, he must defer to the Almighty Allah, who gives power to whom He pleases.”

He added: “For the record, unlike the picture of a desperado that Datti attempted to paint of VP Shettima, this VP, a gentleman, is a perfect story of democratic credentials that are not only untainted but have also never been involved in rigging elections.

“I must also add that this democrat and leader have never lost an election. In case Datti has forgotten, let him be reminded that this Vice President landed at the Presidential Villa by the mercy of the Almighty God and through the destined hand and will of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after starting life upon graduation from the university as Lecturer 2 (for 2 years), banker (6 years), Commissioner across several ministries in Borno State, (4years), Governor (8 years) and Senator (4 years). If God, in His infinite mercy, has elevated Senator Shettima to become the Vice President of Nigeria, is it unmeritorious?

“Like him, hate him or continue to disparage him on all fronts, a major attribute of VP Shettima that cannot be contested is his loyalty to his boss, President Tinubu @officialABAT , and his total belief and devotion to the Renewed Hope Agenda. Unfortunately for the likes of Datti, who would rather expect the President to find fault with his deputy, all President Tinubu sees in him is a loyal and dependable ally, administrative and political asset, intellectual powerhouse, experienced private and public servant, a trojan horse, a reliable confidante, as well as a trustworthy and truly molded cosmopolitan Nigerian.

“Unfortunately for the likes of Datti, the President is way above their “petty egos and small thoughts”. This President has seen it all, with his massive wealth of experience in private and public life.

“Datti can therefore take his small beer parlour gossip elsewhere. The ears are sealed up here; no space for armchair criticism. It is always work mode for Mr President and his Vice President.”